Life sciences and bio-technology are massive, lavishly-funded industries. One of the breakthroughs expected this year is in the area of nanotechnology and surgical procedures.

Scientists in the US and Israel have produced nanobots (microscopic robots) that can be placed inside a human body to perform a specific task, such as to clean an artery or to attack a cancer in a cluster of blood cells. This year could see the first life-saving operation conducted using the help of robots.